Mind Map - Generating Great Ideas through Visualization in Branding Design

A mind map is a visual representation, diagram, or presentation of the various ways words, terms, images, thoughts, or ideas can be related to one another. A useful tool used in many industries and also by top branding agencies, in understanding relationships  and  organizing  thoughts,  it  leads  to an idea generation. Mapping is a brainstorming and visual  diagramming  tool; it is also called word mapping, idea mapping, mind mapping™, word clustering,  and  spider  diagramming.  It  can  be used to visualize, structure, and classify ideas and as an aid in study, organization, problem solving, and decision making. There is a central key word or thought, and all other words, thoughts, or visuals stem from and are linked to the central one in a radius around that central focal point.

How to Create a Mind Map

Mind Map - A Visual Representation of Thoughts or Ideas

Mapping  softwares  are  available  that  offers  templates, shuffling, notes, labels, cross-linking, and more. However, since the nature of the drawing process maximizes spontaneous mapping, doing it by hand offers better outcomes. Drawing your own map is likely to increase personalization and a natural flow of thoughts.

1. Position an extra-large sheet of paper in landscape position.

2. At the center of the page, your starting point, draw a primary visual or write a key word, topic, or theme.

3. Starting with the central word or image, draw branches (using lines, arrows, any type of branch) out in all directions, making as many associations as  possible.  (Don’t  be  judgmental;  just  write  or draw freely.)

Each  subtopic  should  branch  out  from  the major  central  topic.  Then,  each  sub-subtopic or  image  should  branch  out  from  the  subtopic, branching out on and on. Seek relationships and generate branches among as many items as possible. Feel free to repeat items and/or cross-link. Spontaneous mapping draws upon the unconscious. Write or draw as quickly as possible without deliberating or editing. This type of mapping promotes  nonlinear  thinking.  Interestingly,  it can be the most unforeseen item or possibility that becomes a key to idea generation. (You can always  go  back  into  the  map  to  make  adjustments later.)


Deliberate mapping utilizes long and careful thinking. As a complement, you could consider note  taking—writing  down  some  explanatory notes  near  the  items  or  branches  so  that  later, when you reexamine the map, you can more easily recall exactly what you were thinking.

You  can  reorganize  or  revise  what  you  have mapped  based  on  new  information,  based  on  a deeper understanding derived from the first go-round,  or  based  on  something  that  occurred  to you while mapping. You can articulate a range of connections or see links among items on the map. The resulting mind map is a tangible representation of associations (that may reveal thinking or lead to an idea). You can rearrange items to create a new beginning (central word or image), reordering subtopics (secondary items), sub-subtopics (tertiary items), and so on.

So what strategies do you follow in generating great mind map?


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CircumBrand is a leading, most effective Branding and Creative Design team based in Delhi, India.